Girl, 14, Kills Herself At Echo Glen -- 4 Investigations Begin After Death In Juvenile Center

PRESTON - The suicide of a 14-year-girl serving a robbery sentence at the Echo Glen Children's Center on Sunday has triggered four separate investigations into what may have led to her death.

The girl, from Kitsap County, used a sheet from her bed to hang herself in a shower in the early evening, according to authorities at the facility, near Preston.

A counselor and a nurse performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for more than 15 minutes without success.

Sid Sidorowicz, assistant secretary for the state Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, which oversees Echo Glen, said specific steps are now being taken:

-- An internal probe is being conducted by the Echo Glen staff.

-- Dr. Ann Geisel, medical director at the King County Youth Service Center, will conduct a medical review.

-- Dr. Peggy West, of the federal Public Health Service, and Bob Jones, a longtime social worker specializing in children's services, will put together a team from members of professional organizations to review the circumstances leading to the suicide.

-- The state's Child Protective Services will be looking into the supervision and management at Echo Glen.

The various teams will assess the treatment and supervision provided to the girl while at the center, circumstances of the suicide and whether the staff had taken the proper action, Sidorowicz said.

"If anything at Echo Glen needs changing, we will conduct training or take corrective action," he said.

A final report is expected in 30 days, Sidorowicz said.

Dr. Don Mead, Echo Glen superintendent, said the girl was in a cottage with a group of six other people at about 7:30 p.m. when she asked permission to take a shower. He said that 20 minutes later, staff members yelled at her that her shower time had expired.

About five minutes later, they went into the shower and found her.

"We had no indication that the girl was contemplating or might have contemplated suicide. There was no suicidal behavior prior to Sunday's unfortunate crisis, but she was a troubled lady," Mead said.

The girl was serving an 80- to 100-month sentence for participating in a robbery in Bremerton last April and had arrived at the center in June.

Mead said she was in the center's alcohol- and drug-treatment program.

There has been only one other suicide at Echo Glen since it opened 25 years ago. A 13-year-old Tumwater boy committed suicide in January 1992 by hanging himself with a curtain cord wrapped over a window latch.

The state operates five other juvenile institutions - Maple Lane, Thurston County; Green Hill, Lewis County; Naselle, Pacific County; Indian Ridge, Snohomish County; and Mission Creek, Mason County. All are for males; Echo Glen is the only facility with both boys and girls.

Louis T. Corsaletti's phone message number is 206-515-5626. His e-mail address is: lcor-new@seatimes.com

Tan Vinh's phone message number is 206-515-5656. His e-mail address is: tvin-new@seatimes.com